India vs England, 2nd Test, Day 1: Gill unbeaten on 114 as visitors reach 310 for five in 2nd Test

Dubai: Shubman Gill led from the front once more with a second hundred in as many matches as India captain to keep England at bay at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Gill's 114 not out was the cornerstone of India's 310-5 at stumps on the first day of the second Test, with Yashasvi Jaiswal contributing a typically entertaining 87.

India lost two wickets in quick succession to be 211-5 but all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (41 not out) helped Gill avoid a further collapse in an unbroken stand of 99.

At tea

Ben Stokes may be ruing his decision to bowl first on a dry surface that has kept low at times, as India moved to 182 for three at tea on the opening day of the second Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Riding on opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fluent 87, India scored at a healthy rate, with England’s attack failing to produce anything spectacular on a sunny afternoon. But it was once again Stokes who provided the breakthrough, ending a threatening partnership between Jaiswal and skipper Shubman Gill. The England captain drew the left-hander into feathering an edge to the keeper with a short and wide delivery.

Gill looks solid on 42, with his deputy Rishabh Pant (14*) at the other end — the latter coming into this Test on the back of consecutive centuries in his previous two innings.

For India, this could be the last recognised batting partnership, with the all-rounders to follow: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar.

The team’s decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah and leave out Arshdeep Singh has left several former greats baffled.
However, if conditions stay the same, England may be in for a surprise on the final day, with the pitch expected to assist the spinners.

Visitors reach 98 for two as Bumrah is rested

Yashasvi Jaiswal stood firm with an unbeaten 62 as India posted 98 for two on the first day of the second Test against England in Birmingham on Wednesday.

While KL Rahul departed early for just two, Karun Nair who was promoted to No 3 scored 31 from 50 balls before Brydon Carse removed him.

Earlier, India decided to rest fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah amid three lineup changes.

Bumrah, India's best bowler but on a three-test quota in the five-Test series, was replaced by Akash Deep, who will play his first test this year.

Batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy replaced bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who scored only 1 and 4 in the first-test loss in Leeds last week.

Preview

Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t just bowl overs—he builds pressure, one dot ball at a time. And right now, India need every ounce of it. Outplayed in Leeds and staring down a fired-up England side in Birmingham, India’s hopes of squaring the series may rest on their pace ace delivering under fire once again.

The second Test begins today at Trent Bridge, where the pitch is expected to have a grass covering on overcast conditions, offering movement and bounce for seamers. England, already 1-0 up, will look to stretch their advantage, while India must find answers with the ball to stay alive in the series.

Where’s the support?

Bumrah has been India’s standout performer, even as others around him faltered. Returning from a long injury layoff, he has shown both fitness and fire. But the burden is telling. With fellow pacers failing to maintain pressure, the workload on Bumrah has been immense.

India may consider shuffling their attack. If the wicket dries out, Kuldeep Yadav could come in as a variation option. Regardless, the support cast needs to step up—not just in taking wickets but in controlling the scoring rate.

Ashwin calls for ‘negative cricket’

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes India need to change their mindset to counter England’s Bazball aggression. According to him, the focus should be on containment rather than outright attacking play.

“It’s not about how many overs Jasprit Bumrah will bowl. It’s about how we keep the pressure on if Bumrah isn’t bowling,” Ashwin told Wisden.com. “So this game is very straightforward: ‘We will play Bumrah carefully and then Bazball everyone else’. That is pretty much what England will do.”

Ashwin added that the obsession with ‘going for wickets’ is misplaced, and that wickets come through sustained pressure.

“The whole point of ‘going for the wickets’, be it Test cricket or T20 cricket, is all a lie. Pressure gives you wickets. When a bowler keeps a batter at one end for 10 balls and then delivers a good ball, that’s rhythm. You have to bottle them up and test their technique inside out.”

He suggested India consider playing both Bumrah and Kuldeep, provided the other bowlers can hold one end tight.

Must-win situation for India

A second defeat would be a major setback, both tactically and mentally. India’s bowlers, led by Bumrah, will have to do more than strike—they’ll have to squeeze, suffocate, and shut down England’s free-flowing batters.

On a pitch that promises pace and swing, Bumrah will once again be the man to watch. But for India to level the series, he’ll need more than just good spells — he’ll need real support.